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California

2020 Lexus RC F – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

For a long time, Lexus has stood for really wonderful cars. Beautifully built, wonderfully smooth, but it’s been the rare Lexus model that could turn the heads of buyers who pony up serious dough for Mercedes’ AMG, BMW’s M Division, and Porsche. Well, there was the Lexus LFA. And it was sensational, but priced new at $400,000 and going for mid-400’s to 600’s (yes, thousands) now, it was always a halo car that was going to be out of reach of almost all of us. (We do still buy Lottery tickets and dream, though). For the rest of us, Lexus …

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2018 Honda ODYSSEY Elite – Road Test Review – By Ben Lewis

Minivans aren’t often objects of desire. Sure, they can be objects of affection, and we know many owners who swore they’d never own one who now swear they’d never drive anything else, but mostly they lie in the job title of family workhorse – destined to be covered in sweaty sports gear and crumbled cheerios. But maybe things have changed. Is the new 2018 Honda Odyssey lust-worthy? Well, it’s certainly handsome. Hard to believe, but the 2018 is the 5th generation of Honda’s people mover, with 2.5-million units sold it’s Honda’s 4th best-selling vehicle of all time. Impressive. For its …

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HD Road Test Review – 2016 Ford Mustang GT California Special (w/ Videos!)

    The Mustang GT Convertible had a hell of a week here at Car-Revs-Daily.com! First we shot photos of the pony-car icon alongside a LaFerrari, then took an epic road trip down to Botany Bay for yet more photos.  And some very exciting full-throttle videos, too! You would do the same when presented with a dream-car, right? This Mustang GT Cali Special is a life-changing vehicle.  One that is so outstandingly fun, sexy and playful that you gladly forgive its autobox spec and slight cowl shake over big bumps. Wind in your hair, V8 bellow in your ears…… is there any …

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Travel Adventures – 2016 Ford Mustang GT California Special Visits Botany Bay, SC (+Video, 50 Photos)

Any list of great drive adventures on the East Coast should include Botany Bay.  This special nature preserve in Edisto Beach South Carolina offers stunning old Oak trees and curvey roads from start to finish. The property is free to enter, with a parking area a few miles in at the tital marsh and dunes.  Then the action happens for most visitors: you stroll a boardwalk to a beach that is absolutely frozen in time.  It is completely original, with hundreds of trees in the sands. The backstory of the property traces to the Seabrook family’s Sea Cloud plantation.  Construction started …

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Road Test Review – 2016 Ferrari California T

Any chance to drive an all-new Ferrari is enough for an epic day off.  What fantastic fortune! The 2016 California T is the facelifted and engine-swapped update of Modena’s only 2+2 cabrio.  Its $205k base price actually makes it the cheapest model in the 488, F12 and GTC4Lusso range. The numbers and noise coming from the twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8’s quad central pipes are definitely not entry-level, however! The new turbo drivetrain definitely delivers warp speed… but in a slightly delayed way that betrays this car’s split soul. Love-at-first-drive in the Ferrari California T? Sadly, no. Let’s find out why this car’s conflicted …

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2016 Ferrari California T – Deserto Rosso

Ferrari presents a new video and photo tribute to the vast mountains of sand in the Middle East with this glamourous new Cali Turbo video! It is a stark reminder of the natural beauty of the landscape, and its unique nature versus anywhere else on Earth. And also a great reminder of the new California’s beauty and potent performance…! These cars may or may not include the new Handling Speciale package, but look like they are having a ball outside Dubai regardless!     https://youtu.be/xzOQpOGD1YU   2016 Ferrari California T – Deserto Rosso Ferrari Reveals Deserto Rosso Ferrari Pays Tribute …

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Concept Debrief – 1999 RINSPEED X-Trem M.U.V.

Flashbacks can be good…. and they can be bad. The one thing both have in common:  a livid, full-color reminder of something you otherwise never think about. Livid and vivid certainly describes the Rinspeed X-Trem MUV from 1999. The firm was embracing a bit of Americana in the late 90s, and this monstrosity was the ultimate expression of the bright, loud and obnoxious USA, at least as seen from new Geneva.  Less an expression of actual American wants/needs for trucks, and much more a reflection of SoCal life as seen on tv and movies.  The whole machine attempts to embrace …

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Pebble Beach 2015 – Concours Best in Show Winners & Highlights in 77 Photos

What a fantastic group of machines! Scrolling through the photos takes you to another place and time, with each more delightful than the last. We’ve gathered the full list of winners by category, as well as some gorgeous photos of many winners. And smartly, this year created a key with each photo’s details! You’ll be lost in pleasure seeing them all basking in classic-car nirvana. Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners Pebble Beach 2015 Concours Winners   Isotta Fraschini Named Best of Show at 65th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance   2015 Charitable Donations Top $1.8 Million   PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (August …

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LARTE Design Lexus LX570 Alligator Bodykit Brings Exotic, Designer Feel to VIP Fave

  Considering that the Lexus LX570 is the ride of choice for VIPs worldwide, the exterior of the truck is remarkably demure. Yes, the updated 2014 factory LEDs and grille design help distinguish the LX570 a bit from its Land Cruiser cousin — but where is the visual punch, the sex appeal and pure aggression of the hottest Cayennes, QX80s and Mercedes SUVs? For an LX570 that will take you (*and your family!) safely into and out of hot zones around the world — while looking exotic, exclusive and even more expensive than ever — the Larte Design ‘Alligator’ pack …

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NOVITEC ROSSO N Largo Is Man-Eating California T Widebody

The only sweeter words than Novitec Rosso for a custom Ferrari? N Largo! A designation that turns any production supercar into a muscle-bound autobahn monster, N Largo designation is now bestowed on the 2015 Ferrari California T. Dramatic new designs for the nose and widebody wings all around create a vehicle with all the visual intensity you could dream of for the droptop Ferrari supercar. Just compare the N Largo with Novitec Rosso’s other Cali T to see how cool the widebody is. Performance upgrades take the sprint pace of the Novitec Cali T down to just 3.3-seconds, with the …

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2016 BMW Z4 Adds Sexy Estoril Blue to Three-Model Range From $50k

The Z4 vs. Boxster battle was won by Porsche decisively in the early 2000s — with the Porsche feeling sportier and more special with only a five-percent price premium. But as the Z4 retreated from Spartanburg to be made back in Germany, a unique turnabout has taken place. The Boxster is slow and boring in 2015, with its dull and ubiquitous design inspiring not one ounce of excitement. The Z4’s sales today are a tenth of what they were at the model’s peak — while the design is now fabulously wide, low and eye-catching out in the wild. Trust me: …

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NOVITEC ROSSO Launches 3.3s, 201MPH Ferrari California Turbo Upgrades Catalog

The Ferrari California T just took a huge leap up the performance spectrum — with custom-developed engine, exhaust, suspension, interior and aero mods just launched by Novitec Rosso. The biggest draw for many will be the plug-and-play ECU modules to release an extra 86 horsepower and a meatier, lower torque peak for the brand-new 3.8-liter V8TT engine up front. Performance goes from great to gigantic — with the Novitec Cali T able to hit 62-mph in just 3.3-seconds before hitting a much-higher top speed of 201-mph. The N-TRONIC modules are nice because they can be shipped anywhere in days and …

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Mecum Indy 2015 – 1993 Toyota Supra Official Fast Furious Movie Car Seeking $150k+

Movie cars sometimes have a hard life after the filming stops. They have sometimes been abused to the point of no return – with only one or two of the original six-pack of action stars making it to the premiere on four wheels. This 1993 Toyota Supra is the exception. Thanks to fairly gentle use in The Fast and The Furious, this Paul Walker whip survives today in perfect condition. One of one, this Supra is a perfect slice-of-life from the early 2000’s SoCal car scene. The time is right for a big-money sale in 2015, 14 years after the …

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LARTE Design Range Rover Sport WINNER Takes Monaco in 73 New Pics

Updated 5.5.15 The Larte Design WINNER kit for the Range Rover Sport is now available to order!  Who would have thought… seven items to make any RRS so cool and stylish!? There are no shortage of custom upgrades for the new Range Rover Sport, but this latest kit from Larte Design is instantly one of the most distinctive. A gloss black dip for all the trim elements and the new alloys sets the tone, while new bumpers front and rear are fresh and angular like the best supercars.A new pair of white LED DRL’s live in the lower intakes, and …

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NOVITEC ROSSO Ferrari California RACE 606 Is Supercharged Menace!

If there is one Ferrari that is primed and ready for hardcore upgrades, it might be the firm’s softest model: the California. Introduced to mixed reviews but huge sales, the California is now approaching four years old and is being replaced by the new-engine California T. But one tuner solved for the massive power increase in the California already: Novitec Rosso. Instead of the turbo and small-displacement V8 in the new Cali T, the Novitec Rosso RACE 606 adds a supercharged to the original 4.3-liter Ferrari V8. Power is up massively as a result: from 460 to 606 horsepower at …

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2015 KIA Trail’Ster Concept Previews Upcoming Soul Refresh + All-New Interior

The Kia Soul is easily our favorite model in the Kia range – with actual sportiness in the handling and impressive power, there is no other car on the market with such a flexible crossover package. Best of all? The Soul is priced like an economy car, and has almost double the power of the Scion xD and xB. But how to make it a real SUV instead of just a fun and light-hearted crossover? For that, you need all-wheel-drive. KIA has gone theRX450h route here — powering the rear axle with hybrid electric motors. Efficient, compact, and lacking any …

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LARTE Design Range Rover Sport WINNER Styling Kit in 26 New Photos

Updated 2.8.15 The Larte Design WINNER kit for the Range Rover Sport is now available to order!  Who would have thought… seven items to make any RRS so cool and stylish!? There are no shortage of custom upgrades for the new Range Rover Sport, but this latest kit from Larte Design is instantly one of the most distinctive. A gloss black dip for all the trim elements and the new alloys sets the tone, while new bumpers front and rear are fresh and angular like the best supercars.A new pair of white LED DRL’s live in the lower intakes, and …

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LARTE Design Launches Flashy New Range Rover Sport Upgrades

There are no shortage of custom upgrades for the new Range Rover Sport, but this latest kit from Larte Design is instantly one of the most distinctive. A gloss black dip for all the trim elements and the new alloys sets the tone, while new bumpers front and rear are fresh and angular like the best supercars.A new pair of white LED DRL’s live in the lower intakes, and an F1-inspired rear central brake light shines bright red from the lower bumper. The new three-pod grille insert is a fresh take on the RRS style – and is one of …

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RM Arizona 2015 Preview – 1955 Porsche 356 OUTLAW Pre-A Emory Special Coupe

The Porsche Outlaws from SoCal’s Emory family/Valley Customs are well-known in the coolest vintage 356 circles. We spotted a matte black example in Amelia Island and fell hard. The Outlaw Porsches are similar to Singer 911’s — rest0-modded originals that become something altogether more special, unique and fun to drive and own. This Pre-A 356 Coupe is even more enhanced — with a serious racing upgrade for the chassis, engine, exteroir design and cabin. It is truly easy on the eyes and a joy to drive. We envy its future owner! 1955 Porsche 356 OUTLAW   RM Auctions Arizona 15 …

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2012 Giugiaro BRIVIDO Martini Racing Honors Lancia Beta Montecarlo and 037

In the world of iconic racing liveries, Martini Racing is right up there with Golf Oil as the most-loved in history. What better way to salute the long collaborative partnership between ItalDesign Giugiaro than to dress their sexy Brivido GT concept in fast red and blue stripes on a white base. In the case of the Brivido Martini Racing, the homage is more than paint-deep. With a semi-exposed rear diffuser and and long, low nose splitter, the Brivido is close in spirit to the legendary 037 and Beta Montecarlo racecars. These wild turbo rally specials were so fast and wild …

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Ferrari 575 and 599 SuperAmerica Preview F12 Targa in 85 High-Res Monaco Photos

Right before Luca Di Montezemolo was canned at Ferrari last week, he let it slip that an exclusive new model would be coming to the LA auto show in November. That car is widely believed to be some sort of droptop F12 — very likely a Targa or rotating glass SuperAmerica variant. A full cabrio version with a hardtop is seen as unnecessary with the full convertible California model in the range. We have seen this innovative idea before on a few concepts before 559 models were made for sale in 2005 and 2006 near the end of the 550/575 …

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LARTE Design Creates Killer ‘Alligator’ Upgrade Package for Lexus LX570

The Lexus LX570 just joined the cool fleet over at Larte Design in California and Germany! This monster-truck makeover sees the family/luxury SUV become saomething altogether darker, more sinister and more exclusive. The trademark Larte Design style is present up front, where the makeover is the most significant with matte-effect dark trims and a newly-chiseled lower bumper. The Larte Design LX570 program is dubbed “Alligator” and just debuted this week at the Moscow auto show — where buyers give a first-hand look at this stylish upgrade for Lexus LX570 owners. LARTE Design Lexus LX570 Alligator LARTE DESIGN INTRODUCES “ALLIGATOR” TUNING …

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2014 Pebble Beach Concours – Class Award Winners Showcase

Okay now. Start your classic car appreciation engines! About a hundred fantastic cars here, and triple that many amazing, high-resolution photos from 2014’s Pebble Beach Concours. The clear favorite for this non-expert and non-judge? The fabulous 1939 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Pourtout Coupé all the way from Hong Kong.   Forgive me if some of these are out of order. But included are generally the top-3 in every category. Enjoy! Special Thanks to Photographer Collin Graves.   2014 Pebble Beach Concours – Class Award Winners Showcase   Class A: Antique 1st: 1910 American Underslung Traveler Toy Tonneau, William Johnston & Ronald Elenbaas …

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1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider Is Flawless at $15-Million for Gooding PB 2014

1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB California Spider   LWB Spider below.   GOODING & Co. 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Coachwork by Scaglietti Lot 18 Pebble Beach 2014 Estimate: $13,000,000 – $15,000,000 SOLD: $15,180,000 Chassis: 2903 GT   *Please note this vehicle is titled 250GT2903. CAR HIGHLIGHTS One of Only 37 Covered-Headlight Examples Distinguished Show-Car Pedigree and Celebrity Provenance Successful Participant in Numerous Concours and Rally Events Certified by the Ferrari Classiche Department Offered with Rare and Desirable Hardtop  

2015 Porsche Macan S – 108 All-New Photos In Almost-Base $50k Trim

The new Macan S might not be a total USA scoop like the extensive Amelia Island galleries were here on Car-Revs-Daily.com, but sighting one in the flesh at the Quail last week did result in three insights: — completely overlooking the also-brand-new Cayman GTS and Targa 4S models sitting on either side of this mid-size SUV — The Macan is definitely not an easy truck to photograph; its beauty is elusive and tricky to capture — deep longing to own a Macan S… but *definitely* with painted “Side Blades” option checked What is with these hideous door panel protectors pieces? …

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INFINITI Q50 Eau Rouge in 40 New Photos From Pebble Beach + Vettel Track Video At Spa

With a 180-mph speedometer clearly visible on the production-ready cabin of the Q50 Eau Rouge shown at the Quail last week, the hottest-ever Infiniti is almost as fast at the top end as Sebastian Vettel’s F1 car! But Seb has AWD and 560-horsepower from a turbocharged V6 with this concept as he blasts around the Eau Rouge’s namesake corner at Spa Francorchamps…! INFINITI Q50 Eau Rouge  

2015 Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II Extended Wheelbase in White at The Quail Lodge

How to make a millionaire weep? Two ways: — remind him of your personal, daily EBITA salary (earnings before interest, taxes and amortization) — take him for a ride in your Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II limousine Sure, we can all measure ourselves by income or banked wealth. But what life really means seems to become vastly different as one crosses the $100-million mark. For cars, it certainly seems to become less about pace — and much more about grace and space. For the ultimate journey and arrival, nothing on four wheels beats the Phantom II. The Limo model with its …

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LARTE Design INFINITI QX60 Is Completely Transformed into Gorgeous Performance SUV

If you liked the LARTE Design makeover of the Qx80 – brace yourself for what the LARTE team has done with the QX60 and the QX70! The QX60 is perhaps the most transformed and benefits the most from such a deep and thorough style overhaul. The QX60 is actually deeply slinky and sexy in person, but is let down a bit on the coolness stakes with small wheels and chrome galore. The LARTE Design QX60 package fits the new QX60 and QX60 hybrid, as well as the previous JX35 from Infiniti. Great stuff. Especially eager to see those low-beam projectors …

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LARTE Design Arrives in USA With Scary-Cool INFINITI QX80 Upgrades

America, please meet LARTE Design. It is pronounced like “Bart,” but with an L. Larte. LARTE Design, meet America. This exciting new automotive upgrade house in California brings all the bad-ass appeal of a Brabus Mercedes-Benz or KAHN Range Rover — but with its own unique design aesthetic and a fleet of upgrades for the often-overlooked INFINITI SUV range. The designs of the Infiniti QX80 and its siblings are clearly high-quality and highly sophisticated in their appeal and aesthetics – right from the factory. 2014 INFINITI QX80 (stock) But what they might lack is a big hit of testosterone. A …

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RM Auctions Monterey 2014 Preview – 1974 versus 1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale

Wow. Original barely does this one justice. It looks as-new and totally unaltered from its factory state. It might not be as butch or low-riding as some tweaked 1975 Stratos — but is probably the more valuable of the two among serious collectors. A similar, but less original, 1975 model (shown at bottom) brought $375,000 at last year’s RM Monterey sale. This 1974 car is being sold without reserve by RM Auctions August 15th (or 16th) in Monterey, California. 1974 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1068220 Photo Credit: Neil Gardner ©2014 Courtesy of RM Auctions   1975 Stratos Sale by RM …

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Rally Legends – 1983 Lancia Beta Montecarlo and 1982 Lancia 037 at Goodwood 2014

These Lancia rally cars from 1983 and 1984 really defined and propelled Group B’s creation – and perhaps the unlimited performance class’s ultimate demise. They were rally cars only in tire and suspension settings. For all other intents and purposes, these were the hardest-core sports racers in decades. They leveraged new innovations in tech heavily – things like electronic fuel injection, carbon-fiber chassis construction, and turbocharging – to wild effect. The Martin colors are just icing on the cake, really. But while Group B might have taken these cars with them to history, the legacy lives on proudly today in …

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Jay Kays Green LaFerrari and F12 TRS Spyder Cause Deadly Fanboy Riots at 2014 Goodwood FoS

  Okay, maybe not riots. But certainly a slew of strong emotions!  Gorgeous! Love it. Well ordered, Jay Kay! ‘…She said she’s from a quasar… 40 thousand million light years away! But she asked me for my number all the same…’ The custom F12 TRS was also in attendance, plus a California T, 458 Stradale and a Rosso Corsa LaFerrari… to name just a few…. Official Details from Ferrari UK below.     FERRARI AT THE GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 2014 28/06/14 Yesterday, on the opening day of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Ferrari unveiled its new, spectacular, California T …

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Own This Authentic 1969 McLaren M10-A To Be A Racing Hero

One thing I love about the English car mag culture is their enthusiasm for track days – and track day cars. I hope this catches on here, and am doing my part with a few ‘first-times’ under my Dunlop belt.   But one thing that will always beat an Exige S or other time-attack miracles? A real, fire-breathing race car. Nothing will bring all those study hall sketches to life like this 1969 McLaren M10A currently for sale by FantasyJunction in Emeryville, California. Priced at $160,000, this car comes with a drooling list of included equipment, and stretch-folders full of …

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2015 Ferrari California T Now Packing 577Lb-Ft of Turbo Boost

Yes! The Scuderia is back on boost – in a big way. As the F40’s twin-turbocharged V8 still proudly displays to anyone with the balls and cash — Maranello has always loved forced induction. Time to lower the fences – these stallions want to run wild!   2015 Ferrari California T       The 458 Speciale also debuted in Sepang this weekend.   A few more of the Seabrook stallions.  

2013 BMW R90S Concept Celebrates 40 Years of the R90 and 90 Years Making Bikes

This BMW Concept 90 is the 2013 incarnation of a raw new BMW aesthetic that might be coming to two wheels near you. Shown at the same Villa d’Este Concours that the 2014 BMW Concept Roadster appeared, these two make an interesting counterpoint to the modern designs employed by BMW motorcycles today. Overall, the Concept R90S is delightful. It evokes the best days of Bonneville high-speed runs on the salt flats, beach-side California glamour, and beauty in the details. It also makes the rider a much more critical part of the mechanical and aero package. This Concept Ninety really is …

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RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1961 Aston-Martin DB4 Superleggera – Lost by Castrol Ltd, Found By You

This sentence originally closed the article, but must be bumped to the front: This is a Superleggera car — with an alloy bodyshell! HIGHLY DESIRABLE…! Carrozzeria Touring handled these few cars, if we are not mistaken… This DB4 was originally delivered to Castrol in the United Kingdom, forty years before Castrol motor oils officially became part of British Petroleum in the year 2000. For trivia buffs, CC Wakefield and Company became Castrol in 1960, before being purchased by Burmah Oil in 1966. But this has nothing to do with this outstandingly-authentic DB4, which is in true “Barn-Find” condition. Somehow, the …

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RM Monterey 2014 Preview – 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype

Ahh, the joy of discovery. Discovery? Is that the right word for ‘finding’ something that many knew about before, and which has existed for the last 50 years? Hm… Nevertheless, imagine my surprise and delight upon seeing this GT40 Roadster Prototype on the RM Auctions website today. Less than a month ago we asked ourselves a hypothetical question: what if there had been a GT40 Can-Am Spyder? It is great to see that not only is there one, there were 12 made in all. This one has an all-star owner and driver list that includes none other than Carroll Shelby …

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DRIVEN REVIEW: 2014 Kia Sorento SX-L Feels Lux Inside, But Steering Is Very Unusual

Orig Published on: Dec 4, 2013 @ 10:18 My Snow White Kia Sorento SX-L loaner from the other week has been very perplexing. On the one hand, I was downright smitten with the interior quality and materials. As my first press loan from Kia, I started the week very eager to impress the company’s California-based team as well as the executive bosses at HQ in Korea.   But my time with the Sorento was not a love-fest. With recent driving impressions of the very impressive Ford Explorer Sport and Nissan Pathfinder 4×4 Platinum, the Sorento had competition in the seven-seat …

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Iconic Classic: 1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia at Mullin Automotive Museum

Orig Published on: Nov 5, 2013 @ 13:12   If it seems like we have an unhealthy fascination for the Mullin Automotive Museum, you might be right. The cars inside this Oxnard, California collection just… write their own stories. I have a dozen more that I would like to feature, but we must start at the true nexus – or “Xenia” perhaps – of the art of French coach-building by Jacques Saoutchik and his contemporaries. How all these cars got to sunny California is no accident. In many cases – the cars in the collection were painstakingly built – sometimes …

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2014 Ferrari California 30 Edition – Blu Mirabeau – 60-Angle Sunny Photo Shoot

With the California T coming in September as a 2015 model car, the sonorous atmospheric V8 is becoming even more desirable. Yes, the turbo will surely still sound lovely. But any turbo engine sounds far more muffled than a natural breather. This final 30 Edition model weighs 60-pounds less overall, and has a sharper performance focus to all its moves.     Lastly, pretty sure this is Blu Mirabeau, but it might be Azzurro California. Cruise over to Ferrari.com to configure and order your own!        

Amelia Parking Lot Finds ~1966 Alpine A110 Berlinette

Amelia Parking Lot Finds ~1966 Alpine A110 Berlinette When no one knows how many of a particular car model was ever imported into North America, the number is surely under five in total. Sidebar: Anyone remember the “Ameritech McLaren F1” ? Case in point. Owned by the CEO of.. let’s speculate… Ameritech!  Why Ameritech? Because this corporation could afford to bring it over without type approvals, and without waiting for the 25-year-old classic cars loophole in order to make it road legal.  A client demonstration platform, I can hear someone saying. So his guys stuck some nasty reflectors on the …

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Ferrari Goes Turbo! 2015 California T Cabrio Packing 577Lb-Ft of Hissing Boost

Yes! the Scuderia is back on boost. As the F40’s twin-turbocharged V8 still proudly displays to anyone with the balls and cash — Maranello has always loved forced induction. Time to lower the fences – these stallions want to run wild! 2015 Ferrari California T       The 458 Speciale also debuted in Sepang this weekend.   A few more of the Seabrook stallions.  

New Range Rover Sport HSE in 30 Real-Life Photos (and 20 Fake-Life Photos) + Tech Specs — HSE V6 Priced from $64k

The all-new 2014 Range Rover Sport has arrived! The first few boatloads of this hot new luxury truck are unloading as we speak — but demand is still far outstripping supply. So how does the new RRS look in person? Very nice and modern, thank-you-very-much. Sidebar: Starting to think I did not win the #IamDriven contest, by the way. These latest photos already appear to be from Carmel, California. Sad panda – worked hard on these entries=] On second glance, these California-based photos appear to be… cleverly inserted onto the PCH digitally. A glimmer of hope remains! Even in the …

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The Curious Case of the BMW Z4’s 90% Sales Drop Since 2003 – Near $70k Pricing and German Assembly Both Big Factors

The BMW Z4. Yesterday we explored the Zagato restyles of the 2012 Z4 Roadster and Zagato Coupe – which are not exactly gorgeous and arguably look much worse than even the OEM BMW Z4. This is a major problem for the Z4 when its new prices, positioning and German assembly are taken into account. In the 10 years between 2003 and 2013, sales in the U.S. and Canadian markets for the Z4 have logged a calamitous 90-plus percent drop. The Z4’s sales stats from GoodCar-BadCar.net paint the picture very clearly. We prepared the above chart based on the GoodCar-BadCar data …

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Iconic Classic Car: 1939 Delahaye 165 V-12 Cabriolet at Mullin Auto Museum

Only at the Mullin Automotive Museum could a car as brilliant, unique and influential as this Type 165 Cabriolet be summed up as “Car 30.” Amid the world’s finest collection of all-things pre-war and coach-built, the Oxnard, California Mullin Museum is a must-visit for all car fans. Those with a special passion for classics will find none other than 90-plus completely one-off models in the astounding collection. Housed in a glamorous stage-type museum building, the mood is right for period flashbacks with a recreated LeMans pit area real enough to be a fire hazard. Everything is magnificent about the museum, …

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Update1 – Future Taxi Faceoff: Ford Transit Connect vs. NissanT4L vs. Current TX4

The London taxi market is heating up this winter, with companies eager to step in for the polluting, unsafe, unreliable and undignified British Manganese TX4. The Nissan NV200 – what I affectionately call the NissanTaxi4London – is a much better long-term solution to healthy, quiet and safe urban streets than any TX4.   Update: All the below critiques are aimed at the old, classic “London Cab” and not the Nissan. Yes, yes. Nobody likes the TX4 on any rational level. But they have grown accustomed… to its face.   Why so hard on the old TX4 claptraps? This is a …

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2015 VW e-Golf a Snooze, But its EV Tech Also Powers Very Cute e-Up Lite and EcoMotion Van

The Volkswagen e-Golf, e-Up! and Up Lite will join the Detroit auto show festivities, with the Golf BEV debuting its all-new battery and powertrains in 2015 production form. Featured in the cover image is the Frankfurt e-Co-Motion van concept. The newest is the Up! Lite, which appears to bring some of the cool tech and style of the XL1 exotic prototype. I called it the e-Up! Lite before by mistake, the up!Lite appears to be a PHEV of some kind. The 2015 VW e-Golf is a fully electric vehicle, evolving and refining some of the components previewed under the Blue-e-motion concept …

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Caterham Coming to America! 620R to be sold by Superformance (Without An Engine…)

Caterham just announced a U.S. distribution deal for its track-only car line via Irvine-based Superformance. Superformance is best known for its amazing Le Mans GT40 re-creations and other exotic sports cars, so the Caterham deal seems like a good fit to add some lightweight track racers to its customer brochures. The sales of rolling Seven 480 and 620R models will not include an engine, but Superformance retailers or their teams are likely to complete most assemblies for customers after the car is sold and titled. How great would a small-block Chevy V8 be in this tiny machine!  A Shelby Cobra …

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Own This Authentic 1969 McLaren M10-A To Be A Racing Hero

One thing I love about the English car mag culture is their enthusiasm for track days – and track day cars. I hope this catches on here, and am doing my part with a few ‘first-times’ under my Dunlop belt.   But one thing that will always beat an Exige S or other time-attack miracles? A real, fire-breathing race car. Nothing will bring all those study hall sketches to life like this 1969 McLaren M10A currently for sale by FantasyJunction in Emeryville, California. Priced at $160,000, this car comes with a drooling list of included equipment, and stretch-folders full of …

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Classic Supercars: Ultra-Chic Ferrari 400i and 412i

Classic car shopping is often like staring over a city from high atop a mountain. Once your eye sees one thing it likes, there are ten more within the same focal point. Such is Hemming’s Classifieds section. This site allows is a much broader type of browsing and car shopping, with long distance delivery of anything bought online. Generally, private sellers online come in two flavors: – extreme obsessives who are forced to part with a car they have cherished – extremely careless people charged with liquidating an asset You can guess which one you want to buy from to …

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Concept Flashback: 1964 Dodge Hemi Charger – Speedster Prototype

Can you guess who hates Camaro and Mustang news? Dodge. This one-off concept’s HEMI engine gurgles and rocks the car as it revs with indignity at the 2.3-liter turbo four heading to the 2015 Mustang. No cubes = no pubes, the Hemi Charger growls to itself. Packing a 7.0-liter V8 engine with a quoted 600 horsepower, the Hemi Charger concept is part Batmobile part race-car and part street fantasy The proportions of this machine are hilariously retro. Clearly converted from a much longer sedan platform, the back deck of the Hemi Charger is a few feet longer than even the …

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Ferrari 599XX Heading to Paris for RM Auctions in Feb 2014

Buckle up. Tighten belts. Hang on! It looks like the day has finally come: one of Ferrari’s ultra-exclusive Corse Clienti XX models is set for public sale by RM Auctions this February in Paris. Widely believed to be pushing out nearly 800 horsepower through its Enzo-plus V12 engine, all of the typical street weight is stripped out. A full carbon-fiber aero redesign nearly doubles downforce (and grip) versus the 599 road cars, and weight is a very private figure – assumed to be at least 800 pounds lighter than anything with a license plate. Type approvals and imports will be …

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Iconic Classic: 1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia

Iconic Classic: 1938 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza H6C Xenia If it seems like we have an unhealthy fascination for the Mullin Automotive Museum, you might be right. The cars inside this collection just… write their own stories. I have a dozen more that I would like to feature, but we must start at the true nexus – or “Xenia” perhaps – of the art of French coach-building by Jacques Saoutchik and his contemporaries. How all these cars got to sunny California is no accident. In many cases – the cars in the collection were painstakingly built – sometimes from only drawings – …

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